2. What is significance assessment?
âSignificance assessment is the process of
researching and understanding the
meanings and values of items and
collectionsâ
âThe purpose of significance assessment is
to understand and describe how and why
an item is significantâ
âŠusing a stepped process and criteria
3. What is a statement of significance?
âa statement of significance is a reasoned,
readable summary of the values,
meanings and importance of an item or
collectionâ
âit is an argument about how and why an
item or collection is of valueâ
writing a âstatement of significanceâ is the
aim of significance assessment
5. Significance criteria - primary
historic
artistic or aesthetic
research or scientific
social or spiritual
6. Significance criteria - comparative
provenance
condition or
completeness
interpretive
capacity
rarity or representativeness
7. John Marsdenâs dress - primary
Primary criterion: historic significance
âąassociations with a prominent
colonial family
âąpoignant keepsake of a domestic tragedy
âąexample of an everyday childâs dress,
worn in Australia
âąearly date - just 16 years after European
settlement in Australia
8. John Marsdenâs dress - comparative
provenance:
âąchain of ownership to John Marsdenâs family by a
note verified by other sources
âąfrom family executors to the Royal Australian Historical
Society
âągifted to the Powerhouse Museum in 1981
condition:
âądarned, stained and faded in places; shows wear and
tear of daily life
rarity:
âąa very rare example of an everyday childâs dress
Difficult to demonstrate Australian origins and âsubstantial Australian contentâ under provenance
Rarity â not only physical
âWhile there will always be an element of personal judgment in the assessment, using a consistent process and criteria helps to develops assessments that are rigorous and well substantiated by evidence, research and logical argumentâ p. 366